by Anne B. Cole
The urge to explain the ring curses to Drew peaked. He will never believe me. “She sent me a text yesterday. She thinks her father’s death is her fault.”
“It’s not Gretta’s fault.”
Sam winced at Drew’s firm words.
Drew took a deep breath. “That didn’t come out right. No one blames you.”
“Emily does. Gretta may, too,” Sam whispered.
“Em and I talked for hours Friday night. She doesn’t blame Gretta or you, anymore. She’s hurting, grieving. You know what it’s like to lose a parent.”
Drew’s words both stung and rang true.
“It’s not Em I’m worried about.” Drew leaned closer, hesitating briefly. “Sam, I don’t think Gretta went to a camp. Leaving in the middle of the night without telling anyone where she went is not like her.”
Drew’s words, as well as his ability to read Gretta, frightened Sam. He should have focused on the possibility of her suffering side effects from her concussion.
“Do you have any idea where could she be? I don’t know where to start looking,” Sam replied, feeling completely helpless.
“Claire remains medicated so she doesn’t appear worried. She told me Gretta texted, saying she would call tonight.” Drew glanced at his watch. “I need to get back to the nursing home to drive Em and Bobby home. I’ll check messages at the house and hopefully learn something.”
Pop pulled into the driveway, causing both of them to look through the window at the police cruiser. “Your dad’s a cop. Could he look into this?”
“I thought of that. Gretta’s not legally missing and she’s eighteen. The police are under no obligation to do anything at this point, but I’ll see what I can do,” Sam added.
Pop walked through the door. After shaking Drew’s hand, he headed straight to the remaining blueberry cake on the counter. He cut a generous piece and sat in the chair Drew had occupied.
“I better get back to Em. Nice to meet you, Officer Daggett.” Drew and Sam walked outside to his car. He shook Sam’s hand.
“Tell Claire my thoughts are with her and take care of Emily.” As he spoke a low tone rang inside his head. Drew appeared unaware of the sound and climbed into his car. Suddenly, Sam had a strong feeling something bad was about to happen.
He tried to shake it off. “Call me if you find out anything about Gretta.”
“Will do.” Drew drove off.
Sam returned to the house and collapsed on the couch. The rest of the day continued in a blur of sleeping, eating, and worrying.
Hours later, a text flashed. Sam grabbed the phone off his pillow. Drew’s name appeared on the screen.
‘Gretta didn’t call. The nursing home did. Claire’s mom passed away.’
Chapter 17
The Entrance
Katarina
“Time is running out,” Katarina grumbled as she released her spirit from Ruby. She floated behind the garage, slipped between two granite boulders, and descended the dark winding staircase into Purgatory-in-Tartarus. The only thing that upset Katarina more than her own failure was admitting she needed help.
Shivering from the evil chill of her surroundings, she approached two members huddling at the foot of the ice encrusted stairs. “Get up,” she demanded.
Neither moved.
Katarina took a step around them when she recalled James Longworthy’s words, ‘Within the hopeless lies a fourth you used to know.’
Could this fourth soul be the key to unlock the curse?
Without another thought, she grasped one spirit’s shoulder and lifted his chin. She recognized him from her time entrapped in Purgatory-In-Tartarus. He appeared to have nothing left to give.
Hopeless.
She released him and grabbed the second by the scruff of his neck. Younger, he appeared to be of Greek descent. Katarina swept the small boy into her arms and cradled him. Frail fingertips traced her cheek. Unable to recognize him, disappointment and defeat filled her. Instead of tossing him aside, Katarina held tight, determined to find a way to break the curses and make sure Gretta wouldn’t be doomed to Purgatory-In-Tartarus, like this poor boy.
A warm hand touched her shoulder.
Roxana.
The only traces of warmth in Purgatory-In-Tartarus emitted from Roxana and herself since they were no longer prisoners of the dreadful purgatory.
“Katarina, Minnie is waiting,” Roxana’s weakened voice announced.
The boy slid out of Katarina’s arms and huddled beside his companion at the foot of the staircase.
“Hurry, please.”
Katarina noted the urgency in Roxana’s voice as the older boy nodded his appreciation.
Had she given them a sliver of hope or had he passed the feeling to her? A cold shiver ran through her, bringing back the anger she had experienced earlier.
“Remember James? The cranky pirate to whom I deferred my release from Purgatory-In-Tartarus? He summoned Sam through me. James knows about the curse of bad luck, but he didn’t reveal much. Gods may be involved. If a god cursed the ring, it may be impossible for us to break.” Katarina bent her head in defeat.
“Perhaps Minnie’s prophecy will help.” Roxana remained encouraging despite the disappointment Katarina saw in her face.
The two women scrambled through the dismal corridors. Desperate souls touched the hems of their dresses. Others cowered into the shadows. In a distant corner, Roxana’s granddaughter, Minnie, beckoned them.
“Hurry, it’s time.” Minnie offered her outstretched hands.
Roxana took hold of one of Katarina’s hands and one of Minnie’s. Katarina closed the circle as Minnie’s shoulders swayed.
Unexpectedly, Minnie shrieked in horrific pain.
Katarina gripped Roxana’s hand, even though she wanted to break the circle. They watched as Minnie’s body suddenly became rigid. Her screams dwindled to gasps.
“You both will entwine within women destined to Tartarus. Two will enter evil’s grip. One will remain.” Tears began flowing as Minnie faced Roxana. “You will bring a lost soul back.”
The grip on both of Katarina’s hands tightened.
“Someone is coming. A soul will enter Purgatory-In-Tartarus.” Minnie fell to the ground in an emotional frenzy.
Impatience filled Katarina while her mind raced.
Two will enter evil’s grip. Roxana will bring a lost soul back. Will I remain?
“The four who cursed the ring. Katarina, help me think.” Roxana pursed her lips, searching her memory for answers.
“James said, ‘Seek permission from above, roaming, and below. Within the hopeless, is a fourth whom you used to know,’” Katarina mused. “The ring holds four curses. Luda, Tatiana, and Victor uttered three of them.”
“Tatiana could be ‘above’ in the Elysian Fields since she didn’t wear the ring. Luda, the medicine woman, could be ‘roaming’ with the Unwilling in purgatory.” Roxana paused.
“Victor’s ‘below,’ in Tartarus’ evil’s grip. The hopeless one may have placed the bad luck curse. He could be here.” Katarina glanced around the shadowy alcoves.
Roxana gripped her hand. “He may leave with whoever is coming.”
A wave of dread passed between the two women.
“No, not an exit. It will be an entrance. The fourth of our family,” Minnie moaned. “My granddaughter, Lucy is next.” She broke into hysterics.
“Pull yourself together, Minnie. We must know what is going to happen. Who cursed the ring with bad luck?” Katarina shook Minnie by the shoulders.
“Roxana goes to—” Minnie moved away from Katarina and faced Roxana. “In my vision, you bring back a soul. Katarina tries but—” Her face contorted into a twist of pity and fright. “It’s not clear. I must be wrong.” Minnie began to
sob.
“Minnie.” Roxana’s voice held authority. “Do I find Victor or the person who placed the bad luck curse? Who will I bring back? Where am I going?”
Before Minnie could answer, Katarina spoke flatly, “We’re going to Tartarus.”
Minnie fell into another round of hysteria.
Katarina stared into the bleak shadows of Purgatory-In-Tartarus. A new terror gripped her. “We experienced the horrors of this purgatory. The evils of Tartarus will be worse.” She focused on Roxana. “Two will return from evil’s grip. Minnie said you will return with a condemned soul.”
Katarina trembled as she recalled the terror in Minnie’s face. Even though she considered the woman weak, her visions always proved accurate.
A warm touch grazed her shoulders. “We must leave, Katarina. Lucy will be entering. Every soul here, including us, will experience the new member’s deepest fears.” Roxana’s soothing tone faltered into one of sheer horror.
Katarina stared hard at her. They both had been members of Purgatory-In-Tartarus and had encountered terrifying entrances and exits before their releases. She understood her friend’s dismay.
“No. Lucy’s fears cannot compare to the terrors of Tartarus. This will be preparation for what we are foreseen to face.”
“Katarina, you’re not going with me to Tartarus. Minnie may be—”
“Minnie’s never wrong.” Katarina pulled Roxana away from Minnie, who continued wailing. “There is nothing we can do to stop fate.”
“I cannot do this without you.” Roxana’s lip quivered.
“You will return and break the curses, all of them. Don’t let me down,” Katarina growled.
“Lucy,” Minnie announced as a boom ripped through the icy air, the signal of an entrance. The fourth member of Roxana’s family to wear the ring died and would soon enter Purgatory-In-Tartarus.
Katarina felt Roxana clutch her hand as complete darkness surrounded all. Horror overtook every spirit. In Katarina’s opinion entrances were worse than exits since all members of Purgatory-In-Tartarus experienced the fright of the soul entering. During an exit, members experienced the pain of the person being sacrificed. Given the choice, Katarina preferred pain over fear.
A shrill scream pierced the air. Lucy’s anxiety surround them. Roxana’s hand ripped away from hers as she fell into a deep abyss. Katarina frantically reached into the nothingness before crashing upon jagged rocks. Waves pulled her under bubbly foam. She wanted to cry out, but refused to take icy water into her lungs. She held her breath longer than she thought possible as the murky water grew alive with snakes.
Thousands of serpents slithered around her arms, entangling her body, dragging her into the depths until her legs were entrenched in thick, mucky silt. She felt the pricks of leeches attaching themselves to her feet, ankles, and legs. The black, wiggly flatworms swelled to enormous proportions as they sucked. They popped out of the mud and surrounded her, pulsating with blood.
One burst. And another.
Explosions pounded her ears. Crimson water filled her mouth and nose with the coppery scent of blood, her blood. More and more leeches burst, thickening the water, pressing against her with such force she screamed in agony.
Blood instantly filled her mouth and forced its way back into her body, but not to give her life.
Even though she was a spirit, Katarina experienced the physical effects of death. The terror continued. Lucy’s fear of drowning, snakes, and blood had vanished, replaced with a deep aching pain.
Sprawled on the dusty ground, Katarina found herself no longer drowning, but starving.
No food, no water. Nothing.
Her face pressed against the grit of a dirt road. Too weak to lift more than her eyelids, she took in her surroundings. Thick, stagnant water in a small glass next to her head held a lone fly. One leg twitched, creating a ripple within the glass. The stench turned her empty stomach sour.
She mustered enough strength to reach for the glass. Precious water spilled, releasing the fly. It crawled close to her face and stared at her with its incredibly complex, ugly eyes. She had to kill the fly and make it stop staring. She would kill it, and eat it.
As if the fly read her mind, it flew into the air and away from her raised hand. She willed it to return, for she needed to eat.
The fly obeyed, yet when it landed on her arm it no longer looked like a fly. Katarina gasped as a wasp stung her arm three times before she slapped it to death. Its crumpled remnants fell to the ground as the burn of the stings surged through her skin. Her arm swelled rapidly, stretching the skin painfully to its limits.
Under layers of skin something began to move.
Something within her crawled.
Katarina punched her arm in an attempt to kill it. Instead of dying, it seemed to multiply.
Three little bumps scattered under her skin, up her arm and into her chest. More and more unseen creatures surged through her and filled her body. She fell to her hands and knees and vomited, expelling vile insects that instantly grew legs and crawled back over her hands and arms.
Blood curdling screams surrounded her, suffocated her. Katarina clasped her ears with her hands as her voice joined theirs. One by one the shrieks from the members faded until one woman’s horrific cry remained.
Katarina found herself sobbing in the arms of Roxana.
With the entrance complete, souls clung to one another as Lucy’s terrors lingered. She knew where the lone voice originated. Lucy would not be able to be comforted for quite some time.
Katarina took Roxana’s hand. Together, they stumbled to the staircase, supported each other, and attempted to block out the new member’s shrieks.
“Lucy will be the last of my family to enter Purgatory-In-Tartarus.” Roxana’s voice rang resolute.
Katarina knew Roxana would go to Tartarus and back to prevent Gretta from entering. She would go too, but unlike Roxana, her escape from Tartarus had not been foreseen.
Chapter 18
The Woman in White
Katarina
“What are we doing here?” Katarina asked impatiently. Looking around, she recognized the sloping green pasture and tree covered mountain ridge. “We were here with Sam and Gretta.”
Roxana tentatively stepped through the knee high grass. She waved her hands around her head as if attacked by a swarm of bees.
“Relax, Roxana. Nothing is there.” Inhaling a deep breath of crisp, clean, mountain air, she knew it would be some time before Roxana would be able to rid herself of Lucy’s fears.
“Yes, I remember this place.” Roxana stopped and smoothed the front of her gown. A bird’s chirp sounded near a few boulders in the grassy field. “Perhaps she knows.”
Katarina spun around, facing the direction Roxana indicated. A woman, dressed in tattered yet brilliant white clothing, perched on one of the granite slabs protruding from the grassy field. “Luda?”
She quickened her step as she led Roxana to the woman who had cursed the garnet ring.
“Stop.” Luda raised her hand. “Ask now, for I have little desire to stay.”
“Luda, there is a distance spell and the curse of love on the garnet ring. May we have permission to break them?” Katarina’s voice rang clear as Roxana stared in awe at the woman.
Hair, white as snow, reached well past her hips, covering wrinkle free, sun bronzed skin. Her flowing tunic, roughly cut at the sleeves and hem, held a feathery, angelic appearance.
Luda’s voice continued singing in Katarina’s head despite the importance of her request. She barely recognized the beautiful woman in front of them as the ancient medicine woman she had known on earth.
“The distance and love spells are now broken. The last exchange was important. Without Gretta, your journey proves fruitless. A strong essence of love l
ingers on the ring from its original owner, a goddess more powerful than I.”
“Which goddess owned the ring?” Katarina asked. When Luda didn’t answer, she continued. “Where is Victor?”
“Condemned to Purgatory-In-Tartarus where he resides among the hopeless. It may be difficult for you to find him.” Luda wrapped an arm around Roxana who appeared mesmerized in peaceful contentment. “I will not be able to help you when you go to Tartarus. Focus on those you love. Bonds between souls may be more powerful than evil. Love provides safety for your brother, Lorenzo, until it becomes his time to leave Tartarus.”
Roxana nodded, although Katarina didn’t think she fully comprehended Luda’s words. The accomplishment of a soul leaving Tartarus happened so rarely, she wondered if it was even possible.
“James declared those who placed the ring’s curses to be one above, one roaming, one below, and one hopeless. If you are roaming, and Victor is with the hopeless in Purgatory-In-Tartarus, why will Tatiana not contact me through a calling?” Katarina demanded.
“Spirits in Tartarus cannot reach through the evilness surrounding them.” Luda paused and tilted her head. “Anyone who shared the cursed treasure without a sacrifice was condemned to Tartarus.”
Luda’s words sounded lovely even though their meaning pierced Katarina’s heart. She stiffened as a chill ran up her neck.
“Tatiana is with Lorenzo and Anya. They can take comfort in one another—” Roxana began.
